Pre-MBA IT Consultant to Post MBA PE

Hey everyone,
I was wondering if anyone here knows someone who had a career path that followed the Pre-MBA IT Consultant to Post MBA PE. I am considering going to business school but I want to break into PE post-MBA and where I would apply heavily depends on my chances of getting into PE.

Any realistic chances of my intended route?

 
Best Response

I know one guy in software-focused PE and one guy in software-focused VC who have done this. This must be based on the (flawed) assumption on behalf of the hiring managers that working in IT consultancy provides insights into corporate strategy at IT firms, while in reality it's actually IT strategy at random firms. Not surprisingly, with an aptitude for bad analysis both investment firms are making spectacularly crappy investments...

Sorry for being direct and negative but that's my observation from an arguably small set of data points. You would have a much higher chance of going PE long-term by getting relevant pre-MBA experience, i.e. strategy consultancy, investment banking or corporate development (M&A) experience in a sector that you are covering as an IT consultant now. If you've focused on IT projects in the cement industry for example, try get into one of these three job types focusing on that industry. Also, perhaps you can get into a software firm M&A team, again based on the (not very accurate) notion that from installing server software at the Bank of America headquarters you have a crack insight into what's going on in the software or IT markets.

If you want to go for an MBA in any case and want to maximise your chances of great PE placement, it's probably H/S/W.

 

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